When COVID-19 testing was desperately needed in Arizona, Biodesign Institute Chief of Staff Kerri Robinson sprang to action. Her leadership made it possible for ASU to offer partner testing sites, initially for critical employers and later all around the state. For her tireless efforts, Robinson was named among the 2021 Phoenix Business Journal Most Admired Leaders during a virtual event May 13.
According to the journal’s eligibility requirements, the award strives to honor executives who inspire those around them, hold their employees, products and services in the highest regard and run their companies with integrity and are shining examples of how all companies should be run and managed. Robinson’s actions and values demonstrate that she was more than qualified for the honor.
“I believe in rolling up my sleeves to make sure my organization succeeds – no job is too big or too small – I am always willing to dig in alongside others to ensure winning results,” said Robinson.
Robinson made Biodesign Executive Director Joshua LaBaer’s vision to help the community come to life. LaBaer moved to quickly build a clinical testing lab—no easy task for a university that does not have its own hospital. In addition to opening the clinical lab and developing the first saliva test offered publicly in the United States, the institute also offered COVID-19 testing and vaccinations around Arizona.
Robinson’s call to help staff COVID-19 testing sites was answered by both ASU employees and volunteers alike. In fact, Robinson inspired others by working around the clock herself to ensure ASU partner testing and vaccination sites met the caliber of her own exacting standards.
In an interview with the Phoenix Business Journal, she cited integrity and selflessness as the most important traits of a good leader. “It takes integrity (and humility) to pass the credit and take the blame in the workplace …. Passing the credit to the team for a win helps lift everyone,” she said.
Read more about Robinson’s honor in the Phoenix Business Journal. (Subscription required).